***THIS WILL BE THE FINAL INCIDENT UPDATE FOR THE ROYAL FIRE***
Size: 215 acres
Containment: 95%
Start Date & Time: July 7, 2024, 1609 PDT
Cause: Unknown / Under Investigation
Location: 5 miles south of Soda Springs, Calif. Royal Gorge, North Fork of the American River
Suppression Strategy: Full Suppression
CURRENT SITUATION
Due to successful suppression efforts, resources are focused on mop up and suppression repair for the Royal Fire. Efforts were slowed over the weekend due to significant dry lightning and thunderstorms over the fire area. Resources were pulled from suppression repair activities during the lightning events for safety.
Over the weekend the Tahoe National Forest received 158 lightning strikes. 4 new lightning-caused fires were detected on the forest. Royal Fire initial attack resources were able to respond to the new starts. All new starts have been successfully contained and are currently being mopped up and/or patrolled. Royal Fire incident commanders have maintained initial attack resources to assist with any new starts in the fire area or any needed surge capacity for the fire. A significant number of resources plan to demobilize from the incident today and tomorrow.
Tahoe National Forest’s closure order for the fire area will remain active for public safety. The public is advised to stay out of recently burned areas. Fire-weakened trees are easily downed in the wind, potentially causing injury or death. Ash pits and burned stump holes in a fire area often cannot be seen from the surface and have the potential for severe burns and injury.
Containment on the Royal Fire is expected to improve. Fire resources will continue suppression repair long after incident commanders determine the fire fully contained and controlled. Fire resources plan to patrol the fire, likely through fall 2024 or until the fire area receives significant precipitation to where reignition is no longer a concern.
SUPPRESSION REPAIR
Suppression repair efforts continue throughout the Royal Fire area. Suppression repair efforts repair damage caused directly from fire suppression activities. Fire personnel work alongside forest resource advisors throughout the suppression repair process. Repair activities include grading of roads used extensively during suppression activities, the construction of waterbreaks, dozer lines and handlines to control erosion, restoration of drainage, clearing of debris and mulching disturbed soil to prevent damage to water quality.
CLOSURES
Tahoe National Forest has issued a fire area closure order.
INCIDENT HISTORY
The Royal Fire was reported July 7, 2024 at 4:09 p.m. in the area of Royal Gorge on the North Fork of the American River on the Tahoe National Forest. The fire is located in steep, rugged terrain that is difficult to access. Tahoe National Forest immediately responded to the incident with aggressive aerial resources as ground crews made access to the incident. Significant federal, state and local fire resources have supported incident objectives to suppress and contain the fire as quickly as possible.
As the fire had potential to threaten communities and structures, Tahoe National Forest entered unified command with CALFIRE/Placer County Fire, Placer County Office of Emergency Services and Placer County Sheriff’s Office. After days of successful suppression efforts and the fire’s footprint remained on the Tahoe National Forest, respective agencies transitioned out of unified command on July 11, 2024. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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Size: 215 acres
Containment: 95%
Start Date & Time: July 7, 2024, 1609 PDT
Cause: Unknown / Under Investigation
Location: 5 miles south of Soda Springs, Calif. Royal Gorge, North Fork of the American River
Suppression Strategy: Full Suppression
CURRENT SITUATION
Due to successful suppression efforts, resources are focused on mop up and suppression repair for the Royal Fire. Efforts were slowed over the weekend due to significant dry lightning and thunderstorms over the fire area. Resources were pulled from suppression repair activities during the lightning events for safety.
Over the weekend the Tahoe National Forest received 158 lightning strikes. 4 new lightning-caused fires were detected on the forest. Royal Fire initial attack resources were able to respond to the new starts. All new starts have been successfully contained and are currently being mopped up and/or patrolled. Royal Fire incident commanders have maintained initial attack resources to assist with any new starts in the fire area or any needed surge capacity for the fire. A significant number of resources plan to demobilize from the incident today and tomorrow.
Tahoe National Forest’s closure order for the fire area will remain active for public safety. The public is advised to stay out of recently burned areas. Fire-weakened trees are easily downed in the wind, potentially causing injury or death. Ash pits and burned stump holes in a fire area often cannot be seen from the surface and have the potential for severe burns and injury.
Containment on the Royal Fire is expected to improve. Fire resources will continue suppression repair long after incident commanders determine the fire fully contained and controlled. Fire resources plan to patrol the fire, likely through fall 2024 or until the fire area receives significant precipitation to where reignition is no longer a concern.
SUPPRESSION REPAIR
Suppression repair efforts continue throughout the Royal Fire area. Suppression repair efforts repair damage caused directly from fire suppression activities. Fire personnel work alongside forest resource advisors throughout the suppression repair process. Repair activities include grading of roads used extensively during suppression activities, the construction of waterbreaks, dozer lines and handlines to control erosion, restoration of drainage, clearing of debris and mulching disturbed soil to prevent damage to water quality.
CLOSURES
Tahoe National Forest has issued a fire area closure order.
- The Royal Fire Closure Area boundary begins at the intersection of Serene Road and Soda Springs Road (County Road 6001). The boundary follows the Soda Springs Road south and then west and south to the junction of Mosquito Ridge Road (Forest Road 96). The boundary then continues northwest for approximately 5 miles until it reaches the western terminus of the Long Valley Trail (Forest Trail 14E29). The boundary then travels along the Long Valley Trail east to the intersection of Long Valley and Palisades Creek Trail (Forest Trail 14E14) and then continues north along the Palisades Creek Trail to the intersection with Kidd Lakes Road (County Road 9146). The boundary then travels southeast from the Palisades Creek Trailhead for approximately 3 miles back to the starting point at Serene Road and Soda Springs Road.
INCIDENT HISTORY
The Royal Fire was reported July 7, 2024 at 4:09 p.m. in the area of Royal Gorge on the North Fork of the American River on the Tahoe National Forest. The fire is located in steep, rugged terrain that is difficult to access. Tahoe National Forest immediately responded to the incident with aggressive aerial resources as ground crews made access to the incident. Significant federal, state and local fire resources have supported incident objectives to suppress and contain the fire as quickly as possible.
As the fire had potential to threaten communities and structures, Tahoe National Forest entered unified command with CALFIRE/Placer County Fire, Placer County Office of Emergency Services and Placer County Sheriff’s Office. After days of successful suppression efforts and the fire’s footprint remained on the Tahoe National Forest, respective agencies transitioned out of unified command on July 11, 2024. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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